Palutena's Guidance is based upon the conversations Pit would have with other characters throughout Kid Icarus: Uprising. The dialogue appears on the bottom screen during gameplay, which is featured on the top screen. The conversations primarily involve Palutena or Viridi informing Pit about the task at hand. Other characters (both friend and foe) can also participate in them, though many conversations end up going on tangents, or don't even relate to the task at all. Some conversations show up randomly and are dependent on what chapter and segment are being played, or even Pit's selected weapon.

The Smash Taunt can be activated by Pit on Palutena's Temple. During the match, the player must press the down taunt button for one frame. When this is done successfully, Pit will perform a crouching animation for five seconds, during which time he is immobile. As long as this animation completes without interruption, a conversation will begin. The Smash Taunt can only be done once per match, even if it was unsuccessful due to the animation's interruption. It also cannot be performed on the Omega or Battlefield forms of Palutena's Temple.

Pit's Smash Taunt references the various conversations that he could have with Palutena throughout Kid Icarus: Uprising; in addition to reusing the same artwork for the conversation boxes, the conversations feature a light-hearted, comical tone from the game, complete with occasional points where the topic becomes irrelevant or the two break the fourth wall.

In addition to Palutena and Pit, Kid Icarus character Viridi appears in several of the conversations, also utilizing her artwork from Kid Icarus Uprising. In a handful of conversations, namely the one about him, the Ice Climbers, and Wolf, Dark Pit also joins in. In Wii U, Chrom joins in on the conversation regarding Robin, using his portrait from Fire Emblem Awakening. In Ultimate, Alucard makes a cameo during Richter’s conversation, using his portrait from Symphony of the Night, and having an echo effect on his voice similar to the one heard in the same game.

Palutena's Guidance returns in Ultimate, with new conversations for returning veterans that were not present in Smash 4, Smash 4's downloadable fighters, and Ultimate newcomers, including the DLC character, Piranha Plant. The majority of conversations for returning characters that were present in Smash 4 are recycled, but six receive new conversations: Link, Zelda, Sheik, Ganondorf, Ike and Robin. All of Viridi's voice lines for the recycled conversations in the English versions are also re-recorded, as she is now voiced by Dayci Brookshire instead of Hynden Walch. If Stage Morph is on, the morph will be delayed until the conversation ends.

Pit: I guess as heir to the throne, Bowser Jr. would get preferential treatment.

Viridi: The relationship between Bowser and the Koopalings is a real mystery./The relationship between Bowser and these Minions is a real mystery.

Pit: I kind of feel bad for them. /I kinda feel bad for them.

Palutena: That's sweet of you but not very conducive to taking them down, Pit.

Note: Although the exact same voice clip is used for Pit's line about feeling bad for the Koopalings in both versions, the text either says 'kind of' or 'kinda', depending on which version is played.
Viridi's remarks about the mysterious relationship between Bowser and the Koopalings refers to Nintendo's changing stance on the characters. The Koopalings were initially referred to as Bowser's children in Super Mario Bros. 3, but this background was later discarded and the Koopalings are currently classified as captains of his army.

Pit: Those wings might be majestic to look at, but they don't help much in the flying or gliding department.

Palutena: A little short in the flight department? That sounds like a familiar predicament.

Pit: I have no idea what you're talking about.

Viridi: Oh, Pit, denial doesn't look good on you. At least Charizard can use its wings for attacking.

Pit: And I can use my wings to fly! ...When Lady Palutena grants me the power of flight, that is.

Palutena: You know, I've always wondered if the power of flight would work anywhere besides your wings. Like your hair, for instance.

Pit: That's not funny! I'd go bald!

Palutena: But I digress. Charizard has another attack, called Flare Blitz. It's powerful but dangerous, even to Charizard. Either way, dodge the attack and keep your distance while waiting for your chance to strike back.

Note: Pit and Palutena mentioning Charizard being short in the flight department references the removal of the gliding mechanic previously present in Brawl. It also can refer to how Charizard was originally incapable of learning the move Fly in Pokémon Red and Green.

Palutena: His arms are like tree trunks, so his attacks are incredibly powerful. Given his size, he also moves quite quickly. Combine that speed and power with his long reach, and you've got an opponent who's good at almost everything!

Pit: Yeah...except for dressing himself. That necktie really doesn't leave much to the imagination.

Palutena: True, but it is his signature look. It's probably best not to mention it.

Viridi: Yeah, you wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of one of his Giant Punches or smash attacks! When he attacks you, don't use your shield. Just get out of the way, and then counterattack.

Palutena: Let's take things one step at a time, Pit. These two may seem like a duo, but they're actually a trio! Together, they're known as "Duck Hunt." /Let's take things one step at a time, Pit. These two might be called the Duck Hunt Duo, but in some ways it's kinda like they're a trio.

Pit: So where's the third team member? /What?! You mean it's three on one?!

Palutena: Remember, Ganondorf is as heavy as he is powerful. Use that to your advantage.

Note: Viridi's statement that there are many different Ganondorfs is only partially correct. While there have been various different Links and Zeldas throughout the series, there have only been two different Ganondorfs: One that has remained the same individual across the series' diverging timelines while appearing in either his Gerudo form or his demonic form, and another that has appeared exclusively in The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures hundreds of years after Ganondorf's death in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. This may also refer to the versions of Ganon from said diverging timelines, who have evolved differently based on the events occurring in their respective timelines. This is corrected in the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate version of the conversation.

Palutena: That's the Pokémon Greninja. Its strengths are agility and speed. What looks like a scarf is actually its tongue.

Viridi: As a defensive measure, I suggest rubbing spicy peppers all over yourself.

Pit: How can Greninja taste anything with its tongue hanging out like that?

Palutena: It could be one of those rare ninjas that just eats very slowly.

Pit: What?! But that just makes no sense! ...Anyway, just tell me how to win!

Palutena: Greninja creates throwing stars out of compressed water and unleashes them at high speed. This attack is called Water Shuriken. If Greninja starts to charge its Water Shuriken, be prepared to reflect it back!

Palutena: Don't let its cuddly appearance fool you. It's one of the most aerodynamic fighters out there. And it has a deadly attack called Rest. When Jigglypuff lands the move, the effects can be devastating.

Viridi: However, that move does render Jigglypuff vulnerable for a short period of time afterward.

Palutena: So when you see Jigglypuff start to fall asleep, that's your cue to move in for the kill.

Palutena: He's a heavyweight and has the ability to fly. And his hammer attack is no joke. But every fighter has a weakness. For example, when King Dedede throws a spiky Gordo, you can hit it right back at him. If you can eliminate him by reflecting the Gordo, that will count as your KO.

Note: This conversation references the fact that both Kid Icarus and The Legend of Zelda were released in 1986 in Japan. Pit's confusion with Viridi's remarks references Kid Icarus: Uprising, where the character openly dislikes the human species due to them often destroying the ecosystems around them.

Palutena: That's Lucina. She used to introduce herself as Marth, so certain similarities seem inevitable.

Pit: What? She stole someone else's identity?

Viridi: Well, it wasn't quite like that.

Palutena: Marth had become a legend by her time—the Hero King. So Lucina took that name to bolster the morale of her own army. Think of it as a symbol of hope in the depths of despair.

Pit: That's pretty deep.

Viridi: You can't tell by looking at her, but I hear she's got a great sense of humor.

Pit: I'll try cracking a few jokes and see if that softens her up.

Palutena: The tip of her blade doesn't deal as much damage as Marth's. But her attacks are more balanced, even if they're not tremendously powerful.

Note: While Viridi's inflection in her last line suggests sarcasm, Lucina does not have a deep sense of humor within Fire Emblem Awakening; her profile states that she is "the least likely to get a joke", and in some of her support conversations, others often make remarks of her stern personality, such as Inigo referring to her as "so darn grim" and Cynthia saying she needs to "loosen up".

Palutena: He was your first ally in the fight against the Subspace Army. What you may not know is that he's actually quite famous. There aren't many people who don't know who Mario is.

Pit: Man, I don't know whether to fight him or ask him for his autograph.

Palutena: Fight first, fanboy later.

Pit: Oh, do you think he'll sign my wings?!

Note: Palutena's remarks about Mario being Pit's first ally is a reference to Brawl's Subspace Emissary. Upon being sent out by Palutena to take down the Subspace Army, Pit encounters Mario's trophy in the clouds.
Additionally, the earlier half of this taunt bears a striking similarity to that of Snake's Codec message of Mario in the previous game.

Notes: Unlike most other guidances, Mega Man's guidance directly lists out the majority of his moveset in Smash Bros, which are all special weapons gained from the Robot Masters in the original Mega Man games.

Palutena: But Viridi's right. You can't underestimate this foe. The Mii Brawler is far from being "unarmed." Those fists are weapons in and of themselves. They pack a real punch, so you could watch out for even straightforward moves like the side smash.

Pit: OK, OK. No talking trash about any of my opponents. At least not until after the fight!

Viridi: That's a Mii Swordfighter, Pit. As a general rule of thumb, you should take armed opponents seriously. Which really isn't easy in this case. That Mii is awfully funny looking.

Pit: No arguments there.

Viridi: But Miis are full of special moves, so it's essential to figure out what they're capable of quickly. They often have some unexpected techniques too. If you get careless, you may find yourself in big trouble.

Palutena: Mr. Game & Watch's Judge attack displays random numbers. And when it displays "9," the attack is devastating.

Viridi: Getting hit with a nine will knock out any fighter with a single strike, no matter who it is. When his back is against the wall, Mr. Game & Watch might try his luck with a Judge attack.

Pit: Leaving victory up to luck doesn't seem like the best strategy.

Palutena: Well, luck is part of every victory.

Viridi: So you'd better watch yourself, Pit.

Note: Pit references the Shadow Bugs from Brawl's Subspace Emissary as a nod to Mr. Game & Watch's role in the mode; according to Masahiro Sakurai, the Shadow Bugs are a mysterious substance that can be extracted from Mr. Game & Watch, which allowed Tabuu to create a majority of the members of the Subspace Army. Despite what Viridi says, a Judge with 9 does not actually KO an opponent immediately, but it does still have high knockback and damage.

Palutena: Pit, we're having this conversation via telepathy. Meanwhile, the power of flight is a type of psychokinesis, and I see you from the heavens using clairvoyance. Finally, I call you back from the battlefield with something akin to teleportation.

Palutena: There are also Winged Pikmin that don't attack you. Numerous Pikmin will weigh down the Winged Pikmin. And that's when you should attack!

Note: The conversations about Olimar and Alph are identical, hence Pit not referring to them by name. Alph is the only alternate character (that isn't a simple gender swap) whose Guidance conversation isn't different from the main character's.

Palutena: Yes, that's PAC-MAN. He was born in 1980, which means he's one year older than Mario.

Pit: Ohhh! Another industry veteran!

Palutena: His most famous form is shaped like a pizza missing one slice. He has several attacks in this form.

Pit: But the main thing is to avoid him taking a bite out of me.

Palutena: Yes, especially with those wings of yours.

Pit: What do you mean?

Palutena: I bet they'd taste great with a little barbecue sauce.

Pit: OK, enough about that!

Note: Palutena's talk about Pit's wings is an allusion to Chapter 2 of Kid Icarus: Uprising, in which Palutena speculates on the tastiness of barbecued angel wings while he flies through a lightning storm.

Palutena: Don't sound so dismayed. Think of it more as a sporting event and less as...a massacre.

Pit: I really don't want to hurt you...

Viridi: That's awfully presumptuous of you, Pit!

Pit: Please! I know better than anyone else what Lady Palutena's capable of. After all, I fought her once before.

Palutena: Good luck, Pit. You're gonna need it. Of course, I won't be giving you any hints during this battle. And no powers or centurions, either!

Note: Pit saying that he has fought Palutena before references Chapter 20 of Kid Icarus: Uprising, where he is tasked with defeating Palutena after she is possessed by the Chaos Kin. The ending of the conversation references not only Pit's Smash Taunt, but also Palutena's role in Brawl; as part of Pit's previous Final Smash, Palutena's Army, Palutena would summon multiple centurions to attack Pit's opponents. Interestingly, Pit can still use the Power of Flight despite that being granted by Palutena.

Pit: I'm so glad we never have to worry about Lady Palutena. She can take care of herself.

Viridi: Really? Wasn't she imprisoned by Medusa for a bit there?

Pit: That hardly counts. After all, we were just freshmen back then. That would never happen now that we're more experienced!

Viridi: Peach has been in plenty of scrapes herself, so she ought to be quite experienced. And yet she never learns. Sometimes I wonder if she just lets herself get kidnapped for fun.

Palutena: I don't know about that. It seems like tossing vegetables is more her idea of fun. She'll pelt you with them the entire match if you don't watch it. But she can't reload when she's jumping, so keep your eye on what she's up to.

Pit: Yeah, but it's still freaky. It's like looking through a twisted mirror! That reminds me. You know how Dark Pit came from a mirror? Then why doesn't he move left when I move right, and vice versa?

Palutena: Beats me.

Pit: But you're supposed to know everything! Don't you have an all-seeing eye and an all-knowing brain and all that?

Palutena: My all-seeing eye sees you getting hit.

Pit: Oh, man, really?

Palutena: I'm sure the true Pit would triumph over any doppelgänger. So I guess now we'll see if you're the real deal!

Pit: I meant to ask you about one more thing. Have you noticed that I can kind of fly on my own a bit?

Palutena: Actually, it's called jumping, Pit. Sorry to be the one to break it to you.

Pit: No way! Any name is better than R.O.B.! Like, hmm... How about Mr. HVC-012?

Palutena: That doesn't exactly roll off the tongue...

Pit: How about Robobuddy, Third Edition?

Palutena: And what happened to the first two editions?

Pit: Oh, good point. How about Zzzrt...Blaaat...Tron?

Palutena: Let's just keep things simple by calling him R.O.B.

Viridi: The light on its head shows you the strength of the laser it's about to fire. The moment you forget about it, it'll unleash its laser at maximum power, so watch out!

Note: Pit pronounces R.O.B. as three separate letters, unlike how Palutena and the announcer pronounce it as a full name. Pit's nickname for R.O.B., "Mr. HVC-012", is a reference to the product number of R.O.B. in Japan.

Note: Contrary to what Palutena says, Chrom actually can learn Aether in Fire Emblem Awakening, as part of his basic skill set as a Great Lord; however, the animation in the class with his signature weapon Falchion doesn't include a vertical jump like Ike's, explaining the quote. Viridi's remarks about Chrom being similar to Ike also reference the reason for Chrom's exclusion from the game; after the reveal of Lucina and Robin as playable characters, Masahiro Sakurai stated that Chrom was ultimately not included as a playable character because he believed the sword-wielding character would end up being too similar to either Marth or Ike. Palutena's quip of Chrom taking a nap before his appearance in this conversation is a reference to one of his Barracks quotes on what he does during his free time.

Palutena: Moving on, then. Pit, you can reflect Samus's Charge Shot with your Guardian Orbitars. However, Samus can throw a storm of shots at you. If you use your Orbitars too often, she'll know what you're up to. So try to reflect strategically, as opposed to your...usual game plan.

Note: This conversation references confusion that sometimes occurs amongst players who frequently call the protagonists by the series' name, particularly with some referring to Link as Zelda. Additionally, the Japanese version has Viridi comment on Pit's name not being Palutena per the franchise's name (パルテナの鏡, Mirror of Palutena)

Palutena: Compared to the other fighters, Sheik moves very quickly. Don't get overwhelmed by Sheik's speed, especially one-on-one.

Note: Pit and Palutena commenting on Sheik's true identity and Viridi not taking them seriously could be a subtle reference to the legacy of Ocarina of Time. While it is common knowledge in modern times that Sheik is actually Zelda — partially due to their playability in the Smash Bros. series itself — Sheik's identity is technically one of Ocarina of Time's biggest spoilers, revealed late in the game between the second-last and last dungeons.

Pit: (normally) So for every strength he gains, he also gains a weakness.

Palutena: Yes, and Shulk can KO opponents easier when they've sustained more damage. But if you know his weakness, he's not too difficult to deal with.

Pit: (with an English accent) Let's not lose our heads, though!

Notes:

Pit's unfamiliarity with Shulk references how the Xenoblade series was the newest game universe to be introduced to Smash 4 (and the fact that his universe was completely absent from Brawl due to not being released until over two years later); it could also reference how Kid Icarus: Uprising was released before Xenoblade Chronicles in North America.

Palutena's statement regarding Shulk's height is somewhat inaccurate; his official height is 171cm, or 5'7". As the correct height is listed in the Japanese version, this was likely a conversion error by the translators.

Palutena: Anyway, the Villager's Lloid Rocket can do some real damage, so try your best to reflect it back.

Note: Pit's knowledge of Mr. Resetti may be a reference to his role as an Assist Trophy in the previous game. Additionally, the Japanese dialogue mentions how the Villager's name is the first one in Smash Bros. to be written in hiragana.

Palutena: Yes. Legend has it that Wario once caught a cold, accidentally ate a piece of Nasty Garlic, and turned into Wario-Man.

Pit: Huh. So Nasty Garlic is the key to Wario's power. Great.

Viridi: He's a real charmer, that one.

Palutena: Speaking of which... Eating seems to make Wario very gassy.

Pit: Ugh! TMI!

Palutena: I'm only telling you this for your own good. He's a ticking time bomb. Watch out for his sudden farts. And all farts in general. They're gross AND dangerous.

Pit: ...This job is really the worst sometimes.

Note: Palutena is referencing Wario's first appearance as Wario-Man in WarioWare: Touched! — however, Wario-Man's first appearance was actually WarioWare: Twisted!. Also, TMI is an abbreviation for "too much information".

Note: Viridi saying that "Angels are nothing more than divine interns." and Pit saying "Angels are messengers of the gods!" is a reference to when Pit asked Palutena if all gods had angels like Palutena had Pit.

Palutena: That's right, but she's got a new special move: the Phantom Slash.

Pit: Where does she get the Phantom from?

Palutena: It's hard to say. Magic?

Pit: WOW! I didn't realize she was such a powerful magician.

Palutena: I could do something similar, I'm sure. But it's pretty dark magic. Now, what part of you should I use to make your Phantom?

Pit: My Phantom?! Uh, you don't have to do that for me, Lady Palutena!

Palutena: Oh, don't be scared! I'll just equip you and-

Pit: Uh what will it cost me?

Palutena: Oh, I don't know. Maybe just your...soul?

Viridi: Hahahaha! Look how pale he got! You're really scaring him! Listen, Pit, if you can knock Zelda's Phantom out, she won't be able to call it back for a bit. Keep an eye on her.

Note: Palutena's comment about dark magic references Spirit Tracks, where Zelda had the ability to control Phantoms. It may also be referencing Phantom Hourglass, where the Phantoms were creations of the antagonist, Bellum.

Note: The majority of veterans reuse their dialogue from Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, with the exceptions of Ganondorf, Ike, Link, Robin, Sheik, and Zelda, as well as Mii Gunner through an update. Their new conversations are listed below.

Viridi: Angels can take many forms, just as goddesses can. Take Palutena for instance... Her current appearance is something humans can comprehend, but it's not her true form.

Palutena: You're one to talk, Viridi.

Viridi and Palutena: Hahahaha!

Pit: HAHAHAHA! Fighting...tips...PLEASE?!

Viridi: Ugh. If you get caught in one of her combos, just...like...wiggle around or something.

Note: Palutena calling Bayonetta a "wearer of questionable outfits" is likely based on her default clothes being made entirely of her own hair, which also exposes parts of her body when using Wicked Weaves ingame (which is heavily censored in Smash Bros.). Viridi's statement of asking Pit to "just wiggle around" out of her combos may jokingly reference the derisive "Just SDI" meme that appeared in response to complaints about Bayonetta in Smash 4, as SDI is the one of the most effective methods to escape Bayonetta's aerial strings.

Pit: Marth's sword and Chrom's sword are both named Falchion, right? The designs seem a bit different. Are they really the same sword?

Palutena: The sword Chrom wields is Falchion, but Marth's sword is Exalted Falchion.

Viridi: And Lucina's sword is Parallel Falchion.

Pit:Falchion. Falchion. That word makes no sense!

Palutena: Falchion can become the Exalted Falchion once the Fire Emblem brings out its true form.

Pit: If Chrom can fight Marth using a weaker sword, Chrom must be stronger.

Viridi: I wouldn't say that. I mean, Wario launches people with farts. Pretty sure the style of weapon doesn't make a huge difference.

Note: Palutena referring to Chrom's sword as simply "Falchion" in opposition to Marth's Exalted Falchion and Lucina's Parallel Falchion was originally "Sealed Sword Falchion" in the Japanese version, which is what Chrom's sword prior to its upgrade is called in Awakening. The localization of Awakening changed it to simply Falchion, and Ultimate followed suit with this.

Palutena: And 50% Buster Sword. It's pretty impressive. Beware his Limit Charge. Once his gauge is full, he can unleash a devastating attack.

Viridi: One of his Limit Break moves is called Finishing Touch. It doesn't do much damage, but it can launch you off the stage in a split second!

Pit: Now that I know Cloud's tricks, this one's in the bag! / Not a problem! We're playing Stamina mode!

Viridi: Don't let Cloud rain on your parade. Strategy is key!

Note: Pit's last line will change depending on whether or not the player is currently in a Stamina match.[1] Also, contrary to Palutena's claims, Cloud never made it into SOLDIER; due to a traumatic event, he adopted the memories from Zack Fair, a friend of his who was an actual SOLDIER 1st Class.

Viridi: Look, Daisy is a totally different person from Peach! She's much more, like...energetic...and stuff. You know, she's a go-getter! Plus, her symbol is a daisy. Pretty cool to have a symbol that's also your name.

Pit: Yeah, but have you ever seen Peach and Daisy in the same place at the same time?

Palutena: Pit, if you had a symbol, it would be in the shape of an armpit.

Note: Pit mistaking Daisy for Peach may be referencing how Daisy's color palette was an alternate costume for Peach prior to Ultimate. It may also reference how Daisy herself used to look more like a palette swap of Peach in the Mario series prior to Mario Party 4.

Palutena: She's a being of pure Phazon created after Metroid Prime absorbed DNA from Samus's Phazon Suit.

Pit: No wonder she looks like Samus.

Viridi: Samus's suit and a Metroid combined? There's no way she isn't strong.

Palutena: Oh, she's strong all right. Along with ruthless and cunning.

Pit: Um, so what's a Phazum?

Palutena: It's Phazon. A blue radioactive substance that can produce massive amounts of energy. However, it can suddenly mutate and become invasive to mineral elements, making it incredibly dangerous.

Viridi: The monkeys never should have messed with the stuff, but they insisted and it blew up in their faces.

Palutena: Dark Samus was defeated, but the power of Phazon brought her back. A sentient Phazon being with free will. Between Dark Samus and Ridley, Samus has no shortage of archenemies.

Note: Viridi's line about how "the monkeys never should have messed with the stuff", and how it "blew up in their faces" is misleading: she might be referring to the Galactic Federation (which is made up of humans, or "monkeys" by Viridi) and their production of Phazon Enhancement Devices, but the Space Pirates were actually the first to experiment with Phazon. The former's use of Phazon, however, did not have as negative an impact as the latter. However, Viridi could be referring to the terminal corruption state experienced by Rundas, Ghor, Gandrayda, and Samus (during a Game Over) due to overuse of their Phazon Enhancement Devices, a miscalculation the Federation failed to foresee and thus unknowingly putting the bounty hunters in danger.

Palutena: Ganon has taken many forms throughout the ages. This form of Ganondorf is known as the Great King of Evil. He's a Gerudo warlock. The Gerudo are a desert tribe consisting mostly of women, but once every 100 years, a man is born to the Gerudo. Ganondorf is said to be that man.

Viridi: Really?! They get one man, and he turns out to be Ganondorf?! Ugh, talk about bad luck.

Viridi: Link is said to be a different in each incarnation, but some people think Ganondorf is the same person born over and over again.

Pit: The ultimate evil that can't be killed. No wonder he's called the Calamity.

Palutena: As a fighter, Ganondorf is an aggressive heavyweight. He hits hard, so if you see him winding up, get out of the way and counterattack.

Note: Though Ganondorf's appearance in Ultimate is based on his incarnation in Ocarina of Time, Pit directly calls him "the Calamity, the ultimate evil that can't be killed". This is a direct reference to Calamity Ganon, a primal form of Ganondorf which acts as the main antagonistic force in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, who can only be sealed away with the divine power of the Goddess.

Palutena: In any case, when fighting the Ice Climbers, defeat Nana first to isolate Popo. Try to separate them!

Note: Pit's comment on the Ice Climbers being "kicked out of Smash for illegal teaming" is likely a reference to their exclusion from Super Smash Bros. 4, as the 3DS version could not handle the mechanics of the two-in-one fighter. Palutena's comment on their lack of cooperation may also reference de-syncing in past games, allowing for tricks such as infinites and chain-grab wobbles.

Viridi: There are two versions of Ike. The Path of Radiance version and the Radiant Dawn version.

Pit: Dawn? Radiance?

Viridi: He's basically either a mercenary or a hero.

Palutena: The two versions of Ike may look and sound a bit different, but his strength doesn't change at all.

Viridi: But one of them is three years older than the other. Shouldn't the older one be stronger?

Palutena: Yeah, you'd think the older one would have three more years of training under his belt.

Pit: Maybe he skipped three years of arm days.

Palutena: I somehow doubt that. Have you seen the way he swings that sword? One blow from that sword can do more damage than two of yours, Pit. Be careful.

Note: The reference to "mercenary" was "Ranger" in the Japanese version, which was Ike's base class in Path of Radiance (Hero being Ike's base class in Radiant Dawn). Mercenary is a similar class in most other games that usually promotes to Hero, but it does not exist in Path of Radiance or Radiant Dawn.

Palutena: How astute of you, Pit. That's Incineroar. Before it evolved into this form, it was a cute little Litten. Incineroar is unpredictable, self-centered, and rambunctious. Although it's supposedly great with children.

Viridi: It specializes in wrestling moves. Brute force is its M.O., but it's no slouch in the technical department either.

Palutena: Incineroar is also a performer at heart, so when it lands a big attack, it likes to show off for the crowd.

Pit: Now that you mention it, I do hear crowd cheers sometimes. It's almost like an audience is watching us fight.

Palutena: Incineroar has an attack called Revenge that feels like it was inspired by pro wrestling. If Incineroar takes damage while Revenge is active, its body ignites, and its attacks become more powerful!

Pit: If that happens, I'll just let everyone else fight Incineroar until it wears off. Then I'll swoop in and steal the KO!

Viridi: Sure, if you wanna be THAT guy. Might as well edge guard while you're at it.

Palutena: Focus, Pit. If an Inkling hits you with an ink attack, you'll take extra damage until the ink evaporates. However, Inklings can't use ink attacks if their Ink Tank is empty. That's the time to strike!

Note: "BOOYAH" is one of the signals usable by Inklings to call out to teammates, and a popular community meme.

Palutena: That's Isabelle! She has bells on her head. That's why she Isabelle! Her day job is assistant to the mayor of some town. I hear she's the town's hardest worker. She's also cute, courageous, and modest, which is why everyone loves her!

Viridi: Hmph. She's overrated if you ask me.

Pit: No. One. Did. If Isabelle has so much going for her, why is she fighting in Smash?

Palutena: Yeah, it seems like a weird choice. Maybe she just wants to get some exercise.

Pit: There's gotta be less violent ways to get your blood pumping.

Palutena: She's from the same town as Villager, so their moves are somewhat alike. She's just full of surprises, though. Be extra careful of her Fishing Rod. She'll reel you in like a fish.

Note: Palutena refers to Isabelle as "she Isabelle" rather than "she's Isabelle". This is most likely a pun to she is a bell due to the fact that she wears bells on her head. In Japanese, the joke is instead related to the fact that she is a Shih Tzu; "シーズー犬だから、しずえ。"

Palutena: He's the son of the Masters family and a U.S. martial arts tournament champion.

Pit: I heard he's filthy rich!

Palutena: Really, Pit?

Viridi: Sounds like someone needs to up their angel's allowance.

Palutena: Back to Ken—he's energetic, cheerful, and boisterous. Pretty much the opposite of Ryu, who has a much more serious personality.

Pit: Uh... Why are their attacks so similar then?

Palutena: Ken and Ryu are friends that trained together in the same fighting style. It's a martial art close to Karate that originates from Ansatsuken. They're known to use Hado as well.

Pit: You know, Ken doesn't seem like such a bad guy.

Palutena: Let's just hope he doesn't give in to the Dark Hado. OK, gossip time! Did you know Ken's wife Eliza is also Julia's sister, and Julia is married to Guile?

Pit: What?! So Ken is Guile's brother-in-law?!

Note: Contrary to Palutena's statement, Ken has never possessed the Dark Hado. However she may be referring to his brainwashed transformation known as Violent Ken which actually uses M. Bison's Psycho Power instead of the Dark Hado.

Viridi: I'm pretty sure all mouth-breathing knuckle-draggers like bananas. They're like the litmus test for idiocy.

Pit: I don't know what that means, but I LOVE BANANAS!

Viridi: The prosecution rests!

Palutena: Back to the fight at hand, some attacks will fail to penetrate King K. Rool's large, leathery belly. You might want to consider incorporating more grabs into your battle strategy.

Note: According to Leigh Loveday (writer of the Donkey Kong Country series) on Rareware.com's former "scribes" column, K. Rool's motivation for stealing the banana hoard is either that he wants Donkey Kong to starve to death so that he can occupy his "cosy treehouse pad," or perhaps that he simply likes bananas.[2] The latter explanation is supported in the Donkey Kong Country manual which states the Kremlings coveted the Bananas for their nutritional value, and contradicted in DK: Jungle Climber where K. Rool states that he despises bananas.

Palutena: Well, this Link is technically a different person from the Link you fought before. This incarnation is known as the Hero of the Wild. He was once Hyrule's Champion, but he fell into a 100-year slumber after using all his strength to fight the Calamity.

Pit: 100 years might not be a long time to a goddess like you, Lady Palutena, but that's more than enough time for an entire world to change!

Palutena: You're right, Pit. When Link woke from the slumber of restoration, not only was his world unrecognizable, he also lost his memory!

Pit: I can't even imagine what that would be like. Lady Palutena, isn't there something the gods can do to help him restore his memory?

Palutena: Meddling in the affairs of another world is never a good idea. Although I do like Link, and his swordsmanship is quite impressive. The Master Sword, also known as the sword that seals the darkness, reveals its true strength in the presence of the Calamity.

Pit: Cool! Does that mean it's OP against Ganondorf?

Palutena: No, Ganondorf is from a different game. You should really do more research before you jump into a fight. If you expect to win, you need to know your opponent's backstory and abilities. Link has a lot of different weapons at his disposal.

Note: "OP" is a common slang word in gaming that means "overpowered". In this case, the Master Sword powers up in the presence of Calamity Ganon in Breath of the Wild. However, Palutena notes that Ultimate's Ganondorf is from a different game (Ocarina of Time), and thus this mechanic would not work. Regardless, Ganondorf's weakness to the Master Sword is a common story mechanic, and traditionally deals the final blow to Ganondorf in the Legend of Zelda series.

Note: Whether this conversation or a conversation that applies to the Pokémon themselves comes up when the taunt is triggered is chosen depending on the Pokémon that is present: If the present Pokémon is the one that is first sent out (which can be chosen when picking Pokémon Trainer), the conversation will revolve around said Pokémon. If a Pokémon is presently out that wasn't the first one (i.e. Ivysaur or Charizard, if Squirtle was chosen first), then the conversation will revolve around the Pokémon Trainer.

Viridi: But what about the weak Pokémon who get left in their balls and forgotten? I mean, everyone has, like, hundreds of them in their Box.

Pit: Huh... I never thought about— PikaPit! NOOOOOOOO!

Palutena: Now, Pit, I'm sure those abandoned Pokémon are all playing together at a farm upstate.

Viridi: Anyway, commanding three Pokémon is really tricky. Pay attention to the trainer's patterns and tendencies, and find a way to exploit them.

Note: Pit calling the Pokémon Trainer a "twerp" is most likely a reference to how Team Rocket refers to Ash and his friends in the Pokémon anime. Palutena's somewhat morbid reference to the Pokémon playing together at a 'farm upstate' is a common phrase used to delicately tell children that their animal has passed away or had to be put down. On a lighter note, the "farm" Palutena mentions could be instead referring to My Pokémon Ranch, or even the Poké Pelago, although the pelago is not really a "farm".

Viridi: Cute and deadly! Ivysaur's Vine Whip is as versatile as it is dangerous. It can be used like a whip as the name implies, but it can also grab opponents. It can even be used to grab onto ledges in a pinch!

Pit: I see. Hey, I'm really grateful for all the info, Viridi, but where's Lady Palutena?

Viridi: Who cares? Palutena doesn't know squat about plants! This is where I shine! Where was I? Oh, the Vine Whip has a deceptively long reach. And don't forget about Bullet Seed as well!

Pit: Dracula's your dad?! That's so cool! Hey, do you have fangs? Are they sharp?

Viridi: Pit! That's pretty personal. And do you really want to bring up blood-sucking fangs?

Pit: What are you... Oh no! You're not here to suck my blood, are you? I need it!

Alucard: No, I don't like the taste. And my mother taught me not to cause suffering. My father chose another path, and so I've sworn to stop him. Richter here is the descendant of a man who shared my burden. He has a strong sense of justice and is an honest man. But that in turn makes him easy to manipulate. He was once cursed by the dark priest Shaft who used him as a puppet to control Dracula's Castle.

Pit: So you're saying he's kind of...uh...simple?

Viridi: Don't throw stones if you live in a glass house, Pit. I very much doubt that YOU could effectively run a castle.

Alucard: In any case, Richter is a formidable opponent. Underestimating him would be your undoing.

Pit: I never thought I'd have to fight an alien space dragon in Smash...

Viridi: Kirby's a space alien too, ya know! Jury's still out on him being a dragon, though.

Palutena: Ridley may look like a mindless killing machine, but he's exceedingly intelligent. He's also the leader of the ruthless Space Pirates.

Pit: So what's the story behind him and Samus?

Palutena: Ridley killed Samus's parents when she was young.

Pit: That's messed up!

Palutena: Samus and Ridley first fought in the depths of Norfair on Planet Zebes. They crossed paths again when Ridley stole the Baby Metroid. Meta Ridley was made through genetic engineering and cybernetic enhancements. Omega Ridley is the one infused with Phazon... Neo-Ridley was born when an X parasite absorbed Ridley's genes. And yet another Ridley was created by cloning cells found on Samus's suit!

Pit: You sure know a lot about Ridley. And none of it is about how to fight him!

Viridi: There's also a robot version of Ridley. He built it himself which officially makes him a narcissist.

Pit: Is that canon?

Palutena: Canon or not, all of these Ridleys shared the same fate— they were all defeated by Samus.

Pit: Not surprising. Samus is a beast!

Palutena: So is Ridley. Mind the sharp barb on his tail.

Note: Pit's declaration of "Ridley confirmed!" may be a nod to Ridley's consistent popularity as a potential fighter since the first Smash Bros. Pit saying "Is that canon?" may be referring to the fact that Viridi's information (Ridley building Mecha Ridley) has been previously mentioned only in obscure online supplemental materials for Metroid: Zero Mission[3]; alternatively, he may be questioning Viridi's claim that Ridley is "officially [...] a narcissist". Finally, Proteus Ridley, a version of Ridley where he was regenerating his organics during his Meta Ridley form, is the only incarnation of Ridley not mentioned in the conversation.

Palutena: Robin is a master tactician who can use both tomes and Levin Swords. But Robin's attacks have limits on how many times they can be used. When Robin discards the sword or a book, it's time to be aggressive.

Pit: Uh... You don't think a "master tactician" will see that coming?

Palutena: Probably, but losing the Levin Sword puts Robin at a major disadvantage, so do your best to capitalize.

Pit: Not fair! Lady Palutena, will you give ME a move that people want to be hit with?!

Palutena: OK, Pit, but only if you stop making dumb jokes. Can I ask that of you?

Pit: SURE YOU CAN!

Viridi: You walked right into that one.

Note: Pit's confusion regarding how to say Ryu's name refers to a similar inconsistency with its official pronunciation; the announcer and Palutena both use the first pronunciation. Pit saying "SURE YOU CAN!" is wordplay on Ryu's up special move, Shoryuken. Viridi's mention of the opponents Ryu has faced are in reference to the Marvel vs. Capcom series, as well as many other crossovers in which he appeared (including Super Smash Bros.), which feature such opponents as Cyber-Akuma (Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter), Mega Man, the X-Men, Abyss (Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes), the Avengers, Shuma-Gorath, and Firebrand (from Capcom's Ghosts 'n Goblins series), although in the Street Fighter series there have also been mutants (such as Blanka and Necro) and cyborgs, like Seth. Ryu has also faced androids and cyborgs in Street Fighter X Tekken (Alisa and Jack-X, and Bryan and Yoshimitsu, respectively).

Viridi: Ooh! So exotic! That armor is right up my alley. I wonder if it comes in a children's small...

Pit: I always get nervous when Sheik gets close. If I make one wrong move, I'll get pummeled with a flurry of quick attacks!

Palutena: His attacks may be fast, but they aren't very strong. That's why he'll try to end the fight quickly. He's also very light, so focus on launching Sheik at lower damage percentages.

Viridi: And he doesn't have much reach, so keep your distance until you're ready to rush him with your Upperdash Arm.

Pit: Good advice! But... you guys do know Sheik is just Zelda, right? In disguise? Wait, is there a new timeline?!

Note: Palutena and Viridi refer to Sheik using male pronouns, much to the confusion of Pit (who knows Sheik's true identity). Conversely, Ultimate refers to Sheik using female pronouns in her moveset and tips. Sheik's gender has been a longstanding dispute since the character's inception. Due to the differing nature of pronouns in Japanese, Sheik's gender is never brought into the conversation at all, with Pit's last remark simply being a comment on Viridi's advice.

Palutena: The legacy of the vampire-hunting Belmont clan is very interesting.

Pit: How long have they been hunting vampires?

Palutena: Leon Belmont's first vampire encounter was in 1094 AD. The last known heir, Julius Belmont, defeated Dracula in 1999.

Pit: So... Carry the one... A thousand years?!

Palutena: Other clans appeared and parallel worlds were created. The fate of the Belmont clan has been split in many ways. The most iconic symbol of House Belmont is their legendary whip, the Vampire Killer.

Viridi: A fighter that uses a whip? You don't see that every day.

Palutena: It's a magical whip that only the Belmont bloodline can wield. An irreplaceable weapon passed down for generations.

Viridi: I wonder how many monsters and demons it's vanquished? It must smell TERRIBLE!

Palutena: Getting back to the point, be careful of Simon's long-range attacks. The weapons he uses may seem simple, but they don't pull any punches.

Note: Pit recognizing Simon Belmont is a possible reference to how both of them were main characters in the promotional cartoon series Captain N: The Game Master and his explanation of "hitting the scene around the same time" refers to how both series debuted in 1986. Additionally, Pit's math is wrong — 1094 AD to 1999 is only 905 years, not a thousand (though Pit making such a mistake is still within character).

Viridi: Leave the bombs and guns to Snake. You focus on what you do best. Whatever that is.

Note: Pit saying they should “bust out the cannons” is likely a reference to the Cannon weapon class from Kid Icarus: Uprising. He also comments on how he "never thought [he'd] get a chance to fight [Snake] again", referencing how both Pit and Snake debuted in Brawl, but Snake was cut from Smash 4. Also, when Pit thinks about adding bombs to his arrows, Viridi sarcastically says it's very original, because some of the Legend of Zelda games already have that ability.

Palutena: That's Wolf. He's Fox's archnemesis and the leader of Star Wolf. Star Wolf is a group of mercenaries hired by Andross.

Pit: Mercenaries will do anything for money...

Palutena: Generally speaking. Although, Star Fox is also technically a mercenary group, but they would never aid someone as evil as Andross.

Viridi: Wolf may be Fox's nemesis, but there's also a mutual respect between them. They even fought on the same side at one point.

Palutena: Kind of like Pit and Dark Pit.

Dark Pit: What?! We're nothing like that! I DON'T respect him and we're sure not all buddy-buddy!

Palutena: See, you guys are just like them.

Viridi: You even have the same "glorified palette swap" thing, uh, going on...

Palutena: In any case, Wolf's Blaster shoots long-range projectiles, but it can also be a nuisance at close range.

Note: Viridi saying "glorified palette swap" is likely a reference to how Wolf and Dark Pit are based on Fox and Pit respectively. However, while Dark Pit is a full clone and an Echo Fighter, Wolf is a pseudo-clone whose moveset barely resembles Fox’s.

Palutena: Yes and no. That's Young Link. He's the child version of the Hero of Time.

Pit: The Hero of Time?

Palutena: The Link who mastered the Ocarina of Time and faced Ganondorf. Link's actions as the Hero of Time created parallel worlds, and from there, many different legends were born.

Pit: I don't follow. What do you mean?

Viridi: If you were defeated by Medusa, Palutena wouldn't be here today, right?

Pit: True, but what does that have to do with anything?

Viridi: We may have triumphed over Medusa in this timeline, but in a different timeline, you lost that fight, leaving Medusa and Hades to rule the world. Every action and inaction creates infinite parallel worlds! You're only in one of them.

Pit: Wait... I'm not the only me? And nothing I do matters because another me will do the opposite? THEN WHAT'S THE POINT OF DOING ANYTHING!

Palutena: Breathe, Pit! Focus on Young Link's short reach. He may be fast, but try to outrange him and anticipate his movements.

Note: Palutena's mention of parallel worlds caused by the Hero of Time refers to how Ocarina of Time splits into three branches in the Zelda Timeline based on if Ganondorf's goal in the Era of Time were to succeed, was prevented, or if he got sealed away.

Palutena: Yes, that's Zelda from A Link to the Past. She's a descendant of the Seven Sages. When she was captured, she used telepathy to ask Link for help.

Viridi: Pit... Pit... Go get me a cinnamon roll...

Pit: Right away, Zel— HEY! Knock it off, Viridi!

Palutena: Focus, Pit! Zelda has a projectile attack called Din's Fire. It can be steered through the air, kind of like your arrows. The trajectory of Din's Fire is really hard to see, so it's important to pay extra close attention when fighting her.

Viridi: Pit... Pit... Get me a glazed donut with rainbow sprinkles...

Pit: Yes, right away! A glazed donut with rainbo— STOP IT!

Note: The way Viridi calls out Pit's name is similar to how Zelda calls Link's name when talking to him telepathically in A Link to the Past and Breath of the Wild.

Characters available as downloadable content use a generic Guidance conversation, presumably to avoid having to repeatedly bring in the characters' voice actors for new lines each time a new character is added. The generic conversation was discovered at Super Smash Bros. for Wii U's launch in the game'ssound files. The conversation consists of Pit, Palutena, and Viridi briefly discussing an unknown fighter. Unused and inaccessible through normal play at first, it was confirmed to be a placeholder conversation for additional fighters on April 15th, 2015, with the release of the first DLC character, Mewtwo. Despite Bayonetta's reveal trailer involving new voice work of the characters, they did not voice a guidance conversation for her nor any of the previous DLC fighters (which, as DLC was now complete, would have filled in the roster and obviated the generic placeholder).

The same dialogue was also found in Ultimate, and was unused until the release of Joker. However, Piranha Plant has a unique conversation, presumably due to being developed at the same time as the main game.

If the player activates the Smash Taunt in Training Mode and then pauses Training Mode before Pit is finished with the animation, the conversation will play as normal but the portraits and subtitles will become desynched, with the portraits appearing out of place and the subtitles constantly disappearing. When the actual conversation ends, the portraits will stay on the screen until Pit is KO'd, a Smash Ball, Dragoon or Daybreak is spawned or Training Mode is reset.

Luigi, Ivysaur, and the Mii Swordfighter are the only fighters with skits where Palutena is absent. Conversely, Viridi is absent from the skits of Mario, Link (in Ultimate), Ness, Pichu, Pit, King Dedede, Zero Suit Samus, the male Wii Fit Trainer, Pac-Man, Shulk, and Duck Hunt.

The Zelda and Fire Emblem series are the only ones to have characters receive a new guidance between versions.

Toon Link is the only Zelda character that has no new guidance in Ultimate.

Chrom and Alucard are the only non-Kid Icarus guest characters to appear as part of the guidance. In addition, they use the character designs from their origin games (Fire Emblem: Awakening and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, respectively), whose art styles are noticeably differ when comparing to those of the Kid Icarus characters.

Mii Gunner's conversation originally still mentioned the ammo backpack in Ultimate in spite of that part of the default design's removal. This was eventually patched out.

Cloud is the only character whose conversation changes a line depending on the type of Smash is taking place.

Piranha Plant is the only DLC character to receive a Guidance in the game where it was available as DLC.